Tenant 'living like tramp' after leak

First Choice Homes tenant Toni Johnson, who has only one leg after an operation, had to clear up her own home after a badly-fitted radiator fell off the wall and flooded the property.

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A DISABLED woman claimed she was refused help after her house "flooded" in the early hours.

Toni Johnson (43), from Oldham Edge, has hit out at housing association First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) after her radiator fell off the wall causing a leak at 2am.

The resident of Drake Close, who lost her left leg 10 years ago following a failed operation, has pulled up floorboards and underlay without aid.

Miss Johnson spent 20 minutes trying to access the stop tap behind her washing machine after failing to reach anyone via the emergency line.

She claimed the radiator was ill-fitted by contractors and said she was refused help to clean up.

FCHO said that emergency work was completed in response to the initial report and repair work is ongoing but they advise tenants to purchase contents insurance in case of accidental damage.

Wheelchair user Miss Johnson said: "I just can't believe they've left a woman with one leg to live in this condition.

"Water covered the floor in the kitchen and has brought up the lino.

"I ripped up the flooring and pulled the underlay and boarding up because it had begun to smell.

"I have dragged the underlay outside but can't move it anywhere else because the bags are too heavy.

"I'm living like a tramp in my house."

To soak up water from the leak, Miss Johnson, who lives with her Staffordshire bull terrier Bonnie (7), laid out towels across the lounge and kitchen.

A further complaint about the ordeal was the lack of heating in the lounge due to the breakage, which has prevented the floor from drying out.

Miss Johnson said: "They put the wrong screws in the radiator and the bracket has come away from the wall, which isn't level.

"The radiator fell off and flooded the lounge and kitchen.

"My boiler and radiator were leaking at 2am in the morning and I couldn't get through on the emergency line.

"I'm disabled and couldn't reach the stop tap because it was behind the washing machine."

Miss Johnson developed gangrene in her leg when an operation for an artery replacement went wrong.

She said a FCHO representative visited the house last Tuesday but the tenant was on her way to get a replacement leg cast.

The tenant accused the housing association of telling her to use her Disability Living Allowance to pay for cleaners.

Miss Johnson said: "I asked for the house to be put back in order as it was before the leak.

"But no one has been to clean up.

"I think it is disgusting."

Customer first director Dave Smith said: "Emergency work was completed by FCHO to deal with the initial reported problem.

"Work is now ongoing to fully repair and resolve the problems.

"We advise all customers to purchase home contents insurance to meet the cost of repairing and replacing their possessions in cases of accidental damage."